ˈhead-penny Obs. exc. Hist.
1. A poll tax or capitation fee. Cf. head-money.
| c 1200 Ormin 3293 He shollde þær forr himm Hiss hæfedd⁓peninng reccnenn. 1444 Act 23 Hen. VI, c. 7 La somme de lx li. & pluis, appellez hede peniez. c 1460 Towneley Myst. (Surtees) 70 Byd ych man com to you holly, And bryng to you a heede penny. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia iv. 167 A Penny vpon euery Poll, called a head-penny. |
2. A personal or individual ecclesiastical payment or offering.
| 1550 Crowley Inform. & Petit. 11 b, .I. d. to the curate, which he called an heade penye, and .vi. d. to .ii. clarkes. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. 182 First-fruits, Redemption of the first-borne, head-pence, and such like, were by his Laws reserved to the use and benefit of the priests. |